Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Preface
- Maps
- 1 Travels, December 1857–January 1858
- 2 Rome, January–May 1858
- 3 Rome, May–December 1858
- 4 Rome, January–May 1859
- 5 Travels, May–October 1859
- 6 Rome, November 1859–July 1860
- 7 Travels, July–September 1860
- Postface
- Bibliography
- Record of Villa Medici Inmates in Bizet’s Time, 1858–1860
- Index of Artists and Architects
- Index of Places and Persons
- Plate section
6 - Rome, November 1859–July 1860
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 June 2021
- Frontmatter
- Dedication
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Preface
- Maps
- 1 Travels, December 1857–January 1858
- 2 Rome, January–May 1858
- 3 Rome, May–December 1858
- 4 Rome, January–May 1859
- 5 Travels, May–October 1859
- 6 Rome, November 1859–July 1860
- 7 Travels, July–September 1860
- Postface
- Bibliography
- Record of Villa Medici Inmates in Bizet’s Time, 1858–1860
- Index of Artists and Architects
- Index of Places and Persons
- Plate section
Summary
Letter 67
Bizet to his mother
Rome, 9 November 1859
Dear Mama,
We got back to Rome much later than we intended. As I told you in my last letter, I was ill for a week. Then after me Dubois was very unwell for another week. Then two of our companions who were to travel with us had to wait for money.
Anyway we’re back now. We’ve had a splendid trip, with marvellous weather. When I got to Rome I heard about the death of the wretched Mme Guillemin. All the Chevreux family are in France. M. Guillemin is in Pau with his young daughter. I had been expecting this dreadful misfortune for some time, but it has distressed me deeply, as you can imagine. M. Guillemin's behaviour has been very strange for a number of years. God will be the judge.
Passing to far less important matters, I must tell you how delighted I was by my report. Eight of the ten numbers are praised. Here's the full text, anyway:
M. Bizet (first year)
For his first submission M. Bizet has provided the Académie with an opera buffa in two acts entitled Don Procopio.
We are happy to record some notable progress beyond this young artist's first efforts.
In the first act we observed: an Introduction, a Trio, an elegant Cavatina and a Finale in which the Adagio, with a vocal ensemble, is very well handled and is followed by a lively Allegro movement, sung in unison by all the characters to most piquant effect.
The second act is superior to the first. It begins with a Serenade, a most graceful melody, delicately accompanied by guitar and cor anglais.
Let us also mention the Duo for soprano and bass, with an elegant pulse and attractive motifs; and a Chorus for men's voices to be sung mezza voce, and finally an excellent Trio for three bass voices, lively, witty and well-written for the voice.
In sum, this work is distinguished by a fluent and brilliant touch in a young, bold style, precious qualities in the comic genre for which the composer has revealed a decided propensity. These qualities bode well for future efforts, and M. Bizet will not forget the engagement he has undertaken towards himself as well as towards us.
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- Information
- Bizet in ItalyLetters and Journals, 1857–1860, pp. 139 - 172Publisher: Boydell & BrewerPrint publication year: 2021